Page 35 of Starside

Another step. He’s so close. I extend my arm, over and over, the same way the other challengers did.

Please, I beg the world. I know this will kill me, but not today. Not like this.

Nothing.

I think of my sister, her eyes widening as she realized no one was coming to save us. Nothing was going to stop the flames.

As she realized she was dying.

Anything. I would give anything to see her again. But, since that isn’t possible, I will do anything to make sure the god who killed her will feel the same pain she did.

“Come on,” I scream to the heavens, my voice trembling not with fear—but with fury. Cadoc is right above me now. He slides the dagger Stellan once promised me back into his pocket. The one he died for. Cadoc killed him. My anger is an inferno, heating me from the inside out.

But it’s all for nothing. It’s over.

Cadoc reaches his sword above his head. He roars as he leaps forward, his blade aimed right at my neck.

And I surprise myself by not looking away. Not flinching. If this is my death, I will look it right in the face.

No. I don’t want to die. Not yet.

The piece of me that accepted my end now burns to ashes. Fuck that. Fuck this. I didn’t come this far to be stopped by a man who has never wanted for anything, who killed Stellan, who will continue to bring back magic to enrich his greedy house.

From the cinders of that fear and doubt and acceptance, an ember of fight ignites. Not just rage—but resistance. A will to live strong enough to smother death.

I reach up, palm open, in one last attempt to claim a sword, as silver fills my vision. It’s the last thing I do.

A blade does not fall from the trees. No.

It cuts up through the ground, from the grave below, right into my palm, just in time to block Cadoc’s weapon.

And I watch his silver sword shatter into a thousand jagged pieces, in a storm of starlight.

8

Cadoc stumbles back, hilt still in his hand. His eyes narrow at the sword in my grip. I lose the opportunity to strike him down because of my own shock.

Sparkling, Starside steel. An entire sword of it.

It has an energy, a force I can taste. A current runs through the hilt, searing into my blood.

Then the blade shines glorious silver, bright as a star, blinding the world. Wind tears through the woods, roaring, energy rippling. In a flash, the light retreats into the weapon, leaving only me glancing down at my reflection in the glimmering metal.

The forest has gone still. The challengers have stopped.

Everyone is looking at me lying on the ground, holding a sword that rivals Raker’s. He’s there, on the other side of the woods, and has paused midstep. As if, for once, the famed warrior is stunned.

That’s when I realize this blade might have just saved my life—

But it also just made me a target.

I scramble to my feet. Challengers break free from their shock and close in, just like the thorns of the maze. Closer. A dozen blades are pointed at me now.

I try to lift my sword like I have a million times with Stellan, but this weapon weighs as much as it’s worth. I have to use both hands to even continue to hold it—it’s fucking heavy. The sparkling blade glistens, as if excited for the fight. I swallow, decidedly less thrilled. Losing this sword just moments after claiming it would really fucking suck.

Then don’t, I think. I groan as I try to lift it over my head. Weaponless, Cadoc turns on his heel and runs. One of his friends lunges, ready to strike—

A rustling.